Role of Ginger in management of nausea among patients receiving chemotherapy

Zamin Abbas Syed; Ammad  Fahim; Mahpara Safdar; Rafia Imtiaz

doi:10.12669/pjms.40.9.8739

Zamin Abbas Syed mirpur institute of health sciences
Ammad Fahim Assistant Director SCRC Shifa International Hospital H-8/4 Islamabad.
Mahpara Safdar (Assistant Professor), Department of Environmental Design, Health and Nutritional sciences Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad
Rafia Imtiaz Rawalpindi medical university

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.9.8739

Keywords: Chemotherapy, Ginger, Nausea, Vomiting, Emesis

Abstract

Objective: Cancer patients treated with chemotherapy often face variety of side effects, with nausea and vomiting being the most frequent. Ginger (Zingiber officinale), contains natural compounds that can speed up the metabolism and increase intestinal motility. It is traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of ginger in management of nausea among patients receiving chemotherapy.

Methods: This crossover interventional study was conducted to evaluate the role of ginger in management of nausea among patients receiving chemotherapy. Study was carried out at chemotherapy daycare of Shifa International Hospital Islamabad, with a sample size of 90 patients, using non-probability convenient sampling. Patients undergoing chemotherapy were given the dose of ginger (550 mg twice a day) for five consecutive days. On the next chemo cycle the same patients were given the placebo capsules of same color and weight for two times a day for five days. Patients and attendants were contacted for five days and being asked about post-chemotherapy nausea. Nausea and vomiting were measured by Rhodes scale.

Results: Results showed that Rhodes score of patients taking Ginger capsules was significantly lower than those taking placebo (p-value < 0.05) in all the five days.

Conclusion: Ginger significantly managed the nausea among patients receiving chemotherapy. Its natural antiemetic properties provide a convenient and safe way to reduce the post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.9.8739

How to cite this: Syed ZA, Fahim A, Safdar M, Imtiaz R. Role of Ginger in management of nausea among patients receiving chemotherapy. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(9):2036-2040. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.9.8739

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.